Should poor people be able to buy junk food with food stamps?

January 30, 2012

TALLAHASSEE – Should the state be able to prevent people from using food stamps to buy junk food at the grocery store?

For Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, and Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, the answer is yes. The two lawmakers are sponsoring legislation -- HB 1401 and SB 1658 – that would ban the use of food stamps to buy items such as soda and sweets like candy, cake or ice cream.

Said Plakon to the House Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee Monday: "You can't buy certain items in the grocery store right now with food stamps. We're just talking about how big that list is."

But the issue has ignited criticism, generating complaints even from Plakon's and Storms' GOP colleagues.

The House committee voted to pass the bill only with assurances from Plakon that it would likely see substantial changes in the future. Another part of the bill, largely supported by lawmakers, would stop food stamp recipients from using their benefits card at ATMs in casinos or strip clubs.

Several committee members demanded that the restrictions on groceries be removed.

"I don't want people to tell me what to eat," said Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa. "I just don't think it's right as legislators and as a government to tell anyone what they can eat, even if they happen to be poor, even if they happen to be on food stamps. It's just not our core mission, and I'm personally offended by it."

Plakon would not say "definitively" whether he planned to totally remove the junk food ban from his bill or simply tweak it during its next legislative hearing.

The issue of healthy eating has received national attention recently, with Michelle Obama making the fight against obesity one of her top priorities. The move has teamed her with celebrity chefs like Rachel Ray to promote healthy food and performers like Beyonce to promote exercise.

In Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has taken control of school lunches from the state Department of Education and has advocated replacing unhealthy offerings with Florida-grown fruits and vegetables. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture set new, healthier standards for school lunches.

But moves to further restrict what poor people can purchase at the grocery store have met with resistance. Food stamp recipients are already banned from using them to buy alcohol, tobacco, hot foods, foods that will be eaten in the store and items not meant for human consumption, such as toilet paper or pet food.

Currently, 3.3 million Floridians receive food stamps, a total swelled by the recession. And because it is a federally funded program, the state would need to apply to the federal government for a waiver to add additional restrictions.

In 2004, Minnesota unsuccessfully sought a waiver to ban the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food stamps. And last summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rejected a request by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration to ban soda purchases.

Plakon said the federal government's reluctance to grant waivers should not be a deterrent.

"I think the fact that they haven't is not reason for us to request one," he said.

Both the Senate and House versions of the bill have each passed one committee, and each has two more committee stops to go before a possible floor vote.

khaughney@tribune.com or 850-224-6214. Follow her on Twitter @khaughney.